MSU's search may be targeting Murray coach

Mississippi State is taking a run at Steve Prohm.
The Murray State basketball coach was contacted by a search firm last week on behalf of MSU, which is seeking a replacement for recently retired Rick Stansbury. That’s according to a report on Tuesday by WPSD, a television station in Paducah, Ky.
The station reported that Murray State athletics director Allen Ward was unhappy with the firm – Parker Executive Search – contacting Prohm before his team’s season had ended. The Racers were playing in the NCAA tournament at the time; they lost to Marquette on Saturday in their second tournament game.
Stansbury announced his retirement on Thursday, so that would put the point of contact between the firm and Prohm on or about Friday.
“I think there’s a right way to do things,” Ward told the TV station. “Considering we were still playing – it is what it is.”
Earlier on Tuesday, CBS-Sports.com cited sources that said Prohm was MSU’s “primary target for now.”
That report said someone “working on behalf of Mississippi State” had reached out to Prohm.
The 37-year-old Prohm is in his first year as head coach after serving as a Murray State assistant for five years. The Racers went 31-2, winning their first 23 games and taking the Ohio Valley Conference regular season and tournament titles.
Wade told the TV station that the school was working on a new contract with Prohm, who has three years left on his current deal.
“There’s a great chance he’ll stay,” said Ward. “In the end, I think he’ll be back.”
brad.locke@journalinc.com